Learn How to Pronounce graduates

Quick Answer: In English, the noun graduates is pronounced /ˈɡrædʒuəts/; the verb is pronounced /ˈɡrædʒueɪts/.
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The Expert's Take

Dr. Franz Lang

"I distinctly remember the valedictorian speech at my own graduation ceremony, where the speaker, nervous, kept emphasizing "GRAD-u-ates" when referring to us, the noun, instead of the smoother "GRAD-u-ates" for the verb. It's a subtle stress shift that even native speakers fumble. I now use that personal memory as a cautionary tale when coaching my students for their own academic presentations, reminding them that the word itself graduates in pronunciation depending on its job in the sentence."

By Dr. Franz Lang

Meaning and Context

The term "graduates" functions as both a plural noun and a third-person singular verb, a grammatical duality that hinges on pronunciation. As a noun, it refers to individuals who have successfully completed a course of study, typically receiving a diploma or academic degree from a university, college, or high school. These alumni form the backbone of a skilled workforce, with recent graduates often entering competitive job markets or pursuing advanced degrees. As a verb, it denotes the act of completing these studies, a milestone celebrated in commencement ceremonies. For clarity in formal communication, the noun form places primary stress on the first syllable (GRAD-u-ates), while the verb form stresses the second syllable (gra-DU-ates), a distinction crucial for academics, public speakers, and English language learners to master for professional and academic integrity.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The primary spelling of "graduates" is consistent, but common errors arise from its pronunciation variants and related forms. A frequent typo is "graduats," omitting the 'e,' often due to fast typing. Confusion also occurs with the singular "graduate," which some mistakenly pluralize as "graduate's" (possessive) or "graduates'" (plural possessive) when intending the simple plural. The homophone "graduands" is a distinct term for those about to graduate but who have not yet formally received their degree, and should not be used interchangeably. Additionally, the past tense "graduated" is sometimes incorrectly used as a transitive verb without "from" (e.g., "She graduated college" is considered informal or regionally acceptable, whereas "She graduated from college" is the formally prescribed construction).

Example Sentences

The university's class of 2024 produced over five thousand highly qualified graduates ready to enter diverse professional fields.

Each spring, the prestigious institution graduates more engineers than any other school in the state, significantly impacting the local tech industry.

When announcing the names, the dean carefully pronounced the noun "graduates" with stress on the first syllable to honor the students.

In her speech, she noted, "The college graduates a new cohort of critical thinkers every year, each prepared to tackle global challenges."

It is important for the valedictorian to practice her speech to ensure she correctly uses the verb form, as in "He graduates with honors this June," placing the stress correctly to sound authoritative.

Sources and References

I researched the pronunciation of "graduates" by focusing on its noun/verb distinction. I used YouGlish as my primary tool, listening carefully to the word in context to hear the different stress patterns (e.g., "GRAD-u-ates" vs. "grad-U-ates"). I also checked the word's entry on Wiktionary for phonetic notations of both forms and listened to examples on Forvo.

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